Did Jesus Really Say That? Part 3
John 3:3 (NLT) “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
Luke 12:5 (ESV) “I will warn you whom to fear: fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!”
Luke 13:1-5 (NIV) Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
“Unless you REPENT, you too will all perish.”
Mark 2:14-17 (NKJV) As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he rose and followed Him. 15 Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Repentance begins with an invitation, not condemnation.
The atmosphere of repentance is joy, not guilt and gloom.
Romans 2:4 (NLT) Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that His kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
1. Conviction — “God opens our eyes.”
John 16:8 (NLT) And when He comes, He will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.
Genuine repentance always begins with revelation.
Acts 2:37-38 (NLT) Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and the other apostles, “Brother, what should we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins…”
2. Confession — “We own what we’ve done.”
Psalm 51:1-5 (NLT) Have mercy on ME, O God, because of Your unfailing love. Because of Your great compassion, blot out the stain of MY sins. 2 Wash ME clean from MY guilt. Purify ME from MY sin. 3 For I recognize MY rebellion; it haunts ME day and night. 4 Against You, and You alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in Your sight. You will be proved right in what You say, and Your judgment against ME is just.
1 John 1:7-9 (NLT) But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
Confession is the intersection where our sin meets the blood of Jesus.
Proverbs 28:13 (NLT) People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and TURN from them, they will receive mercy.
3. Turning From — “We walk away from what’s hurting us.”
Repent — “to change one’s mind” and “to change one’s direction.”
Philippians 3:13 (NLT) “Forgetting of [neglecting or no longer caring for] the past…”
Proverbs 26:11 (AMP) Like a dog that returns to his vomit, is a fool who repeats his foolishness.
A change of heart always leads to a change of life.
4. Turning To — “We walk toward Jesus.”
Matthew 4:17 (NLT) From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Repentance isn’t just about what we’re leaving behind—it’s about who we’re running toward.
When we turn to God, we receive…
Salvation & forgiveness
A new heart
A new way of thinking
A new family
Healing for our pain & brokenness
Freedom from the bondage of sin
Purpose
God’s love
Hope for the future
And “times of refreshing” in His presence.
Acts 26:17-20 (NLT) “Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles 18 to open their eyes, so they may turn FROM darkness TO light and FROM the power of Satan TO God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in Me.” …20 I preached…that all must repent of their sins and turn TO God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do.
5. Restitution — “We make it right.”
Restitution — “to restore something to its rightful owner or to make something good.”
Luke 19:1-9 (NLT) Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came by, He looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” He said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” 6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. 8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” 9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham.”
"What God has saved you TO is greater, than what He has saved you FROM."